 Moose Creek Kennel was established in 1983 and has grown to meet the challenges of the Great Long Distance Races: the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest. We still own our remote parcel near Mt. Mckinley on Moose Creek since it is in one of the most extensive sledding trails systems in Alaska.
Views of Denali-the great one as the natives call it are unbelievable at Moose Creek.
In 1992, we purchased property in Willow, Alaska and in the process of moving there we renamed our kennel Dream a Dream Dog Farm. Willow offers equally great trail systems and being on the road system makes our job of taking care of sleddogs easier.
Our goals continue to be breeding, training and development of champion sleeddogs who love people. We would also love to show you our country, our lifestyle and our wonderful dogs in a setting which is off the beaten tourist path.
Moose Creek Kennel in Trapper Creek
 In the winter of 1982-1983 Vern lived with Joe May, the 1980 Iditarod Champion, to train for his first Iditarod. Trapper Creek was a community of cabins scattered in the woods. The main training trail was also the main access trail to the road for many cabins in the area. We became familiar with the area that winter through Joe and training our dog teams on these backwoods trails. Larry Johnson a neighbor to the north of Joe had a cabin and homesite parcel on Trail Rdge Road which was simply a winter trail two and one-half miles off Petersville Road.
At the end of the 1983 race in Nome Vern decided that his one time shot at the Iditarod would turn into another, “just to see if I can do better”. When Larry’s cabin came up for sale the next year Vern and Susan bought it and Moose Creek Kennel racing teams was started. Vern continued to work as an attorney in the Mat Su Valley and Anchorage while Susan stayed at the cabin and cared for the dogs. And each year Vern raced he did do better.
 In 1985 he finished in 6th place in the Iditarod. In 1987 he took a break from racing the dogs to give Susan a chance. It is the only year between 1983 and 2004 that he didn’t race either the Yukon Quest or the Iditarod. Susan took the dogs to a 12th place finish in the Yukon Quest in 1987. In 1988 Susan began school in Veterinary Medicine and Vern switched from the Iditarod to the Quest. In 1989 he finished 2nd in the Quest and in 1990 he won the Yukon Quest. Susan flew up from school to be at the finish in Whitehorse, YT. In 1992 when Susan graduated from Veterinary school Vern returned to racing the Iditarod.
 During the years from 1984 to 1992 the Moose Creek cabin grew from a single small cabin on 5 acres of trees to a much bigger and more efficient kennel operation. In 1992 there were two cabins, two acres of cleared land, a well, a large heated cookshed, a generator shed with an electric start generator to run the yard lights, a greenhouse and large garden with raised beds, a sauna, and two large pole buildings to store equipment , 4-wheelers and snow machines out of the weather. It is a beautiful and quiet place. The 5 acres are 2 ½ miles off the Petersville Rd. So in the winter time the only access is by snow machine. The road is drive able in the summer when the mud dries up but except for the 4 months in summer and fall the cabin is remote access. We love being at the Trapper Creek property.
 But as the kennel grew in size and the dogs became more competitive and we got older we wanted a kennel with more amenities. So in 1994 we built a small log cabin in Willow at mile 73 on the Parks Hwy. It was barely big enough for all the dogs, but had great trail access and was on the road so Susan could work at a vet clinic in Wasilla. But a few years later we bought 10 acres of undeveloped land 9 miles south and built a huge garage/dog barn. It had all the things we’d dreamed of over the years to make the kennel more efficient. The building had a huge two car garage, two apartments for handlers, a clinic room, a warm room with kennels for dog recovery. Outside under the roof overhang was a walk in freezer, pens for dogs in heat and loads of storage out of the weather.
|
